AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16433, 12 July 1915, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC,

The.-.; is 110 doubt that it was the title of tiiis winch caused the Garrison Hail to ne crowded to the doors on Saturday night, Ihero were other pictures on tne programme, but their titles were only ot an ordinary character. '"Iho White Slave irallie,"' however, to some people meant 1 the picturing in detail of the incidents connected with a eorrowtul traffic in llcat 1 and blood, on whicii subject they desired to obuiin some truthful first-hand knowledge; to others it meant tlio opportunity of sansiynig a morbid curiosity. Neither sect.on could have felt. a?, tne conclusion of tne presentment, any great deal of conviction mat its desires nau been fullilled. Some of the incidents in the story may or may not have had a foundation in fact at one time or another, but the author, in an endeavour to turn out a lengthy lilm, has had to shut liis eyes to ways out of difficulties which would have appealed to the most unintelligent. Nina, an sctrese, leaves her INew i'ork engagement because of tho attempted familiarity of the manager. Siis lien answers an advertisement—a lake one 'w it turns out—which asks for applications for a position in a Petrograd theatre. She secures tho appointment, and leaves her widowed mother and journeys to Russia. At the railway station door she is met and welcomed by the man who had signed the advertisement, and coolly driven to his homo and made a prisoner, with the other girl inmates. In the meantime her fiance, a lieutenant in tho American navy, receives word trom the mother that Nina lias left for Petrograd since when no word has been received from her. Fortunately, by a stroke of the pen, the lieutenant's ship is, at th.s psychological moment, ordered to the Russian capital. Hia search for Nina is at first unavailing, but one night, when accompanying a party of officers on a visit to the night side of Petrograd, the _ party enters tne house ji which Nina is imprisoned, and tho lieutenant meets the nnssing girl face to face. The lady, however, does not wish immediately to flee from her unpleasant surroundings; she will meet her lover at 1 o'clock that night. The lieutenant duly arrives at the hour, but is knocked unconscious by tho rascally procurer, who, thoagh of heavy build, is evidently of an athletic disposition, as ho prefers to clamber up a tree outside the window of Nina's compartment instead of taking out his latchkey and walking in at tne door. After more melodramatic situations, the lovers are finally re-united. The picture certainly teaches a lesson, though the application of it must naturally chiefly refer to the big cities, and tliaf is, that young girls should exercise caution in answering advertisements. It would be extremely unfortunate for the world at large, however, if all girls were of as unsuspecting a nature as Nina. Notwithstanding its structural defects, it cannot bo denied that the story contains some exciting situations, and the various sccnes were closely watched by the (spectators. Tho rest of the pictures were of a high standard of merit, that entitled "Strong Heart"' being worthy of particular mention. NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. A Keystone comedy, entitled "Ambrose's Sour Grapes," is one of the feature films on this week's programme at the New Queen's Theatre, where there were crowded I sessions on Saturday evening. The comedy has a real plot, tilo laughter being raised in consequence of twin sisters being so much alike that their own lovers could scarcely distinguish the one from the other. Moet of the Key6tono Company's joy-makers are in the oast, and the extraordinary situations which arise are made the most of. The interest is sustained from start to finish. Another good comedy is tho Vitagraph Company's production undo: the name of "'Eats!" In this Billy Quirk and Lee Beggs contrive to amuse tho onlookers by their attempts to obtain high-class dixineis without paying for them. The Lubin Company is represented by a 2000 ft drama of modem society life, "The iminy Day," which is capably acted by the star artists of the ccmpajiy. Tho Topical Budget contains an excellent picture of the Sultan of Turkey, accompanied by the Grand Vizier and all the Ministers, leaving the palace after a war council, Winston Churchill with Flight-oom-manders Grahaane White and Sitwell, Ireland's new Viceroy, etc. ' PLAZA PICTURES. Tho new programme to be shown at the Plaza Iheatre to-day and to-night- is considered one of the strongest ever presented to a Dunedin audience of picture patrons, lhe feature drama, "The Jockey of Death," is said to be the supreme production of the year. It is contained in five big reels of him, 5000 ft; in length. The Auckland theatres, which had it continuously for 14 days, did record business, and turned hundreds of patrons away nightly. "The Jockey of Death will be shown at all day and evening sessions, along with the latest WarW -n , roll ' c ' e ' aIK ' at all evening sessions will be supported by the popular Charlie yhaplin in his latest merry-maker, "Charlie in the Park."

GRAND THEATRE. The Price of a Kiss," a three-part military drama by MiJano, a Continental company, is the "feature" attraction of to-day's new programme at the Grand Picture 1 a lac e. For wealth of action, stirring and passionate scenes, thrilling and unique situations, . ltft will be hard to bear.. The story is of Lieut. Henry, a squire's son, and Louis V alois, a. young farmer, who have quarrelled on account of the former's attention to the latter s wife. Although his wife is faithful to him, Louis, on account of the suspicious actions of Lieut. Henry, violently quarrels with the lieutenant. In the midst of their fighting war is declared. At the front the husband and the lieutenant are captured, and are about to be shot when the troops appear and rcscue them both. The husband and wife are united. Tho euoportintr nirturcs are-.—"Grizzly Gulch Chariot Race" and , Funnyositiss" (comics), "Girl and the Spy (drama), and the latest Warwick Chronicle. Ihe Grand Symnhonv Orchestra will aecompmy the screening of the uieturcs. F

DUNE-DIN MALE CHOIR. Wednesday's concert by the above society will be noteworthy in the fact that it will be the first since Dunedin's Male Choir adopted the new title in preference to that of Dunedtn Licdertafcl. This concert w : l! also commence the series for tho twentyninth season, and will be the one-hundred and tenth concert given by this popular organisat.on. Ihe society hopes that the success which attended its efforts under the old name will be even more pronounced under the new title. A choice selection of part-songs will bo given by the society, amongst them being several that are dec.dedly appropriate tor the present prevailing sentiments. The lady vocalist for the occasion will be Mrs it. Hudson (Our Soldiers' Queen), and Messrs W. E. M'Kinlay and \V. A. At will will aJso contribute items. The society's conductor and nianist (Messrs Jesse Timson and Chas. A. Martin) will give a pianoforte duo on two pianos, and in the interval a patriotic address will be given by the Rev. W. Hay. Extra tickets c-an bo purchased at the doors.